L’Oreal Visible Lift Blur Foundation

It’s been awhile since I’ve written a strictly beauty product post but for the past couple of weeks, I’ve been using L’Oreal’s Visible Lift Blur Foundation so I thought I’d blog about my results. Read on for more!

I look for a couple of things in an every day foundation. First, it has to be really easy to put on without a lot of tools. There’s nothing I hate more than trying to get made up quickly but finding I need significant brush work on my foundation. I also like a decent amount of sun protection, coverage (not too much) and it needs to be relatively long lasting. So far, I’ve worn Visible Lift Blur on a long plane trip, during business meetings and as an every day, light coverage foundation. The good news is that this foundation is light weight and easy to put on using fingers only. It blends well into my skin and does the whole “blur” thing. That’s due to the loads of silicones that it contains, which isn’t a bad thing for most of us. If silicones are problematic for you, steer clear of Visible Lift Blur. Texturally, it’s light, smooth and powdery feeling. it dries nicely on the face and leaves a smooth finish.

L’Oreal Visible Lift Blur Foundation: Before and After

In the picture on the right, I’m wearing just the foundation in Nude Beige (see swatch below). This foundation is very sheer and I’ve attempted to build it up a few times without much luck. Now, I happen to like my foundation on the sheer side so that my real skin shows through. I conceal any problem areas (for me, under eyes, around my nose and on either side of my chin) with my favorite concealer (IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye), powder, and I’m off. Since I don’t tend to have blemishes, that’s not a concern for me but some women our age do have breakouts. For those of you who do, Visible Lift Blur may not offer the coverage you are looking for.

L’Oreal Visible Lift Blur Foundation in 203 Nude Beige

My only real complaint about this foundation is that it does not seem to last well on the skin, even with a nice dusting of powder. It showed significant wear after four hours and that’s an issue for me as I don’t like to really touch up my makeup (other than a light dusting of powder and maybe some lip color). If I’m just working at home or stepping out and want to even out my skin tone and add some spf, (which is 90% of the time if I’m not traveling), then this one is a great “go to.” And for that reason, I’ll use if for the rest of the summer. It really does lightly even things out and, while I don’t really see a big “blur” impact, I do like this foundation for everyday wear.

L’Oreal Visible Lift Blur Foundation is available for $14.99 in twelve shades at drugstores everywhere. Check it out!

Ages of Beauty rating: ***

L’Oreal Voluminous Mistake Proof Eyeliner

I love a nice flick of eyeliner to dress up my eyes a bit. My requirements for a good eyeliner include that the formula doesn’t smudge, the color is rich and opaque and it’s easy to apply. How did L’Oreal’s Voluminous Mistake Proof Eyeliner perform? Read on to find out!



I’m not sure you can tell in the fuzzy picture, above (what the heck happened???!!), but this L’Oreal liner  (which is available at drugstores everywhere for about $7) has a very firm, magic marker-like tip. It’s even angled like a magic marker although the tip isn’t as thick. L’Oreal bills this tip as an “ultra precise applicator,” allowing the user to easily execute even the most exacting eyeliner looks. OK…I didn’t find this applicator that easy to use and I generally have no problems applying liners of all types and formulas. I have a feeling I know what made the applicator appear to be less than “ultra precise”…

…and that would be the pigmentation! I found the black eyeliner to be sheer. To get the depth of color on the swatches, above (sorry for the blur), I had to go over them several times. You can see the “sheer” color on the outer edges of the swatches. My liner is brand new and is stored on its side so it’s not like the pigments aren’t concentrated in the applicator. As a result of the lacking pigment, I had difficulty making a very thin, precise line.

All of that being said, this eyeliner was absolutely smudge proof on my eyelids!!! (Note to L’Oreal, if you’re reading this---why can you make the Voluminous eyeliner smudgeproof but the Voluminous Waterproof Mascara is not? I used to love that mascara!!!)

You can see on the picture, above, that my lines are neither thin nor precise (which is what I go for when doing a flick) because I had to go over the lines several times to get enough color. As I was applying the liner, I made note that this marker pen will probably work really well while tight lining (taking the liner and applying it by pushing it between the eyelashes---looks very natural and makes the eyelashes look really thick).

Because my eyes are hooded, I have to draw a really long line in order for it to show up. Little mistakes or lack of precision generally don’t show up when my eyes are open (see below). You can’t even see the flicks!

I will continue to use this liner pen, specifically for when I want a more natural look via tight lining. Again, I love that it doesn’t smudge on me (when everything else does) but unless the formula is changed to make the pigment more opaque and the applicator is redesigned, I probably won’t purchase this “good but not great” eyeliner again.

Have you tried this eyeliner pen? What do you think?

Ages of Beauty rating: ***

Heritage Store Rosewater

Lately I’ve been trying to find more simple, everyday products that are not only easy to find (at a grocery store, drugstore, etc) but also inexpensive. Believe me, I have a huge collection of makeup and beauty products that range from low cost to extremely dear but I get the most satisfaction out of finding inexpensive products that work and feel special. So, it was with great pleasure that I happened upon Heritage Store’s Rosewater spritz in  my local Whole Foods!

Now this product is not specifically marketed as a facial spritz but works rather well in that role. I used it after I have cleansed my face (double cleansed in the evening and a single cleanse in the morning) and then applied my acid-based toner. This little bit of rosie goodness lifts my spirits with its soft fragrance and when I next apply my facial moisturizer, it just feels good!

There are literally two ingredients in this spritz—water and a few drops of rose essential oil. You can easily make this at home using distilled water and rose essential oil, which is readily available in a health food store or at Whole Foods (note---rose essential oil is available in a large variety of concentrations and prices. True Rose Absolute is quite expensive but you can find diluted versions for less in small quantities. That’s probably what was used in this product). There is absolutely NO science behind the “water that has been vortexed and magnetized to  raise the energy to a higher vibration” but if you can get over that, this product is pretty inexpensive at under $6.00 for a 4 ounce spray bottle. I originally thought it should have a preservative (and it really should if you’re going to keep it for a long time) but since there is nothing in it but these two ingredients, it’s kind of like keeping an open bottle of water (which also usually has no preservatives). Just use it up fairly quickly (or keep it in the refrigerator) and you should be good for awhile.

I like this soft smelling spray and may purchase it again. Have you tried it? Let me know your opinion!

Ages of Beauty rating: ***

Get A Little Glam With Your Glow!

If I’m going to give myself a little extra pampering, it usually happens on Sunday. This past weekend, I spent a lot of time re-purposing a room in my home (I’ve still got a long way to go!) to get ready for the holidays so after packing, lifting boxes and purging the room, I thought Sunday evening was a great time to try out my new GlamGlow YouthMud TinglExfoliate Treatment!

This thick creamy product is slightly gritty and has dark flecks in the first sample I took out of the pot. It has a slightly floral scent, which is not at all overpowering. The fragrance is soft and slightly floral. Let’s take a quick look at the ingredients:

Aqua (Water), Montmorillonite (Volcanic Minerals), Kaolin (French Sea Clay), Magnesium Aluminum Silicate (Purified Clay), Polyethylene, Pumice (Micro Volcanic Rock), Camellia Sinensis Leaf (Green Tea Leaf), Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract (Green Tea), Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract (Chamomile), Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract (Marigold), Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract (Cucumber), Hedara Helix Extract (Ivy), Symphytum Officinale Leaf Extract (Comfrey Herb), Lavandula Hybrida Oil (Lavender), Glycerin (Vegetable), Parfum, [Benzyl Benzoate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool], Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone.

YouthMud  contains several different types of clay (the Montmorillonite, Kaolin, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate), which are probably mostly used as thickeners in this product, exfoliants (pumice and the polyethylene), antioxidants (Green Tea Leaf and extract, chamomile, marigold), skin conditioning/softening agents (cucumber, glycerin, ivy, Caprylyl Glycol) an anti-inflammatory (comfrey), fragrance (lavender, parfum), preservatives (Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone), and an ingredient that helps make the mask “spreadable” (Hexylene Glycol).

The ingredients are pretty straight forward (even the clays---available online and most likely in your local Whole Foods) and lots of skincare products include all, or at least some, of these ingredients. They are all also readily available to people who want to “do it yourself.” That being said, it’s a pain in the you know where to gather everything and duplicate it at home. One big difference is that if you were making it at home, you’d probably make small batches, which you’d use up in a week, making the use of the four preservatives not really necessary.

YouthMud right after application

I applied YouthMud to my entire face. It spread easily and contained grainy bits of black (tea leaves) and after about ten minutes, it dried to a hard, light green substance. During the dry time, I felt my skin tighten up and tingle a little bit (that’s from the clay, I believe). Some people report that this product burns but I didn’t feel any burning. There are some ingredients here that can be irritants (the lavender, the benzyl benzoate, the hexyl cinnamal, the limonene and the linalool) so that may be the reason why. The exfoliation takes place as the pumice and polyethylene beads rub against the skin during the drying process and during removal of the mask. After YouthMud was completely removed (using warm water), my skin felt soft and smooth, as I expected.

I like this mask and am glad that I purchased it. It is available in two sizes at Sephora, the .5 oz jar (which I purchased) which costs $19 and a larger (1.7 oz) jar for $69. If you’re looking for a “spa-like” feel without going to a spa, you’ll like this mask. It’s a little bit of luxury in a jar!!!

Have you tried YouthMud? What do you think of it?

Ages of Beauty rating: ***

Formula X Nail Polish

Calling all nail polish lovers! I came across a new (well, new to me) nail polish from Sephora that is supposed to be fast drying and long wearing. My last Sephora order contained a mini bottle of this polish in “Pyrotechnic” so I thought I’d try it out. Read on for my thoughts!

Formula X’s formula is smooth and thin, which I like in a polish. The brush is small enough that I can easily apply the color with a fair amount of precision but not so large that it's cumbersome. Pyrotechic  is a beautiful bright red that reads slightly warm to me. Once applied, it does dry quickly with a nice shine. As always, I used a good base coat (CND Sticky), two coats of color and a coat of Seche Vite top coat. I like both the color and the polish over all.

Some of the reviews I read on the Sephora site mention that Formula X is a long wearing polish. For my test, I applied the polish (2 coats) as above, on a Monday. It went on beautifully and I ended up with a shiny, vibrant manicure. As for the long wear claims, I actually didn’t find that this formula was particularly long lasting. Within three days, I was touching up the tips (both hands) just like I do with almost every other nail polish, except shellac. I wore Pyrotechnic until Saturday (so that’s six days) and actually touched up the tips twice during that time frame. Here’s a picture of both hands on Day 6, right before I removed the polish:

Despite the chipping, I do like the polish and have ordered a bunch of mini bottles from Sephora. The colors look really great and many of them appear to be pretty unique. I also ordered both the Formula X base coat and top coat to see if that improves the wear-ability (some of the reviews mentioned that all 3 steps are necessary to guarantee long wear). If I find that to be the case, I will report back!

You can purchase Formula X for $10.50 each at Sephora by clicking this link. Check it out!!

Ages of Beauty rating: ***

Revlon Colorstay Eye Shadow in Moonlit

Revlon’s Colorstay 16 Hour Eye Shadow was one of my best drugstore finds in the past couple of months. It had been years since I’ve worn any of Revlon’s shadows and I really didn’t know what to expect. One of the shades I purchased was Moonlit, a versatile, neutral quad that wore really well during last Family Weekend at my stepson’s college. In fact, I liked it so much that I wore it several times this week!

The shades in the palette range from a light, slightly frosty creamy white, to a light, neutral beige, a darker satin brown and finally a sooty grayish brown.The two darker colors were pretty nicely pigmented while the light brown was probably the least pigmented of the bunch. The lightest color was about what you’d expect, providing a nice, light sheen to my tear ducts and right under my brows.

One nice surprise with this quad is that the shadows weren’t the least bit powdery! Although the marketing touts a 16 hour wear time, I didn’t even try to wear them that long. I will say, though, that I applied the shadow without any eye primer and I got great wear for ten hours. No creasing! That truly is amazing on my eyes!

I do like the Moonlit eye quad and it’s an excellent performer for “over 40” eyes. The shades have a nice sheen without being too frosty so therefore adds a nice touch of light to the eyes without highlighting fine lines and bags. It’s a really nice value costing about $5.99 (depending on the drugstore). There are also fourteen other selections (one of which I’ll review next week!) available as well.

Have you tried Moonlit? Do let me know what you think!

Ages of Beauty rating: ***

Rodan + Fields Redefine Anti Aging Skin Care

Rodan + Fields, better known as the makers of Proactive, also developed four anti aging skincare lines: Redefine, Soothe, Reverse and Unblemish. I was recently sent samples from the Redefine Age Assault Kit to use and review. My review will be presented in two parts: Part one will focus on the main four products in the line and part two will cover some of the additional products that supplement the line. Read on for my thoughts.

The Redefine line is described as layering “cosmetic ingredients and proven peptide technology to help defend against and reduce the visible signs of aging of noticeably firmer, smoother, flawless-looking skin.” My review will focus on the efficacy of the products, the ingredients, and whether the ingredients contained back up the marketing claims. Redefine contains a daily cleansing mask, a toner, a moisturizer with a broad spectrum sunscreen and a night cream. Rodan + Fields products are sold via direct sales and I received mine from a consultant. You can purchase all of the products in part one and part two by clicking on the following link: https://jrowan.myrandf.biz/ .

Daily Cleaning Mask

The Redefine Daily Cleansing Mask is a creamy (non foaming) clay mask that can either be used as a massage on/rinse off product or a apply/leave for two minutes/rinse off mask that is used as the first step in the morning routine or the second step in the evening routine (after you use a product to remove makeup—like an oily makeup remover). I used it as the “2 minute leave on” option and found that it worked really well. In fact, I was surprised that I liked it so much! This cleanser includes two types of clay and the purpose of the clay is to absorb oils/provides an astringent effect and to make the skin feel tighter which it does. Also included in this mask are very fine dimethicone beads, which act as an exfoliator if the mask is massaged into the skin. I didn’t find these beads to be too abrasive for the face, unlike another of Rodan + Fields products (which I will discuss in Part 2).

Ingredients listed are:

Water, Kaolin, Butylene Glycol, Isododecane, Titanium Dioxide, Lauryl Methacrylate/Glycol Dimethacrylate Crosspolymer, Stearic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Bentonite, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Disodium EDTA, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Xanthan Gum, Oleth-10 Phosphate, Sorbitan Stearate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Lactate, Potassium Hydroxide, Fragrance

As far as the ingredients are concerned, they are pretty straight forward: water, clay, humectants, thickeners, film forming agents, emollients, carrying agents, preservatives, skin conditioning agents, stabilizers, cleansing agents, Vitamin E, and a water binding agent. According to my research, all of these ingredients are safe. One thing I want to clear up, though, is that there are people on the internet who are putting out false information about propylene glycol and it’s derivates (like butylene glycol). This ingredient is NOT the same as antifreeze and it’s just irresponsible to say that it is.

Rodan & Fields Daily Cleansing Mask

As for the Daily Cleansing Mask, it’s different than anything I’ve seen on the market for quite awhile. I like this product enough that I’m purchasing a tube for my own use. It retails for $41 for a 4.2 ounce tube.

Ages of Beauty rating: *****

In my skincare routine, an acid-based toner is an important item. If it is alcohol-free and gentle, that makes it even better!  Rodan + Field’s Pore Minimizing Toner contains lactobionic acid, which is an acid that is supposed to be similar to AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), which are normally used as exfoliators. Lactobionic acid is a type of polyhydroxy acid (PHA) that is supposed to be more gentle than an AHA because it doesn’t not penetrate the skin as deeply. Although there is apparently no independent research available at this time to substantiate the effectiveness of lactobionic acid for gentle exfoliation, I found the toner to be very gentle. Truthfully, it’s a more economic acid-based toner than the Clarins and Biologique Recherche toners that I am currently using. The price of the Rodan + Fields option is $47 for 4.2 ounces.

Ingredients are:

Water, Lactobionic Acid, Gluconolactone, Butylene Glycol, Lens Esculenta (Lentil) Seed Extract, Dimethyl MEA, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polysorbate 20, Octoxynol-12, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Carrageenan, Propylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ammonium Hydroxide, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Fragrance

OK..on to the “pore minimizing” claim. I actually hate it when companies make claims around pores because there is so much dumb information out there. Pores are not like doors and windows where they open and close. We are pretty much born with what we are born with and then things like aging and oil production can impact them. There are some ingredients, though, that make them look better temporarily. The ingredient in this toner that is supposed to impact the pores is the Lentil Seed Extract. Supposedly, this extract (and its derivatives) are supposed to affect the amount of sebum that the pores produce and in that way, can influence the size of the pores. Unfortunately, there is no independent research available on this (everything I’ve read says that it’s not available and I have not been able to find anything). Now, I only used this product for a week, and I do like it as a choice for an acid based toner. I can’t comment on any kind of pore reduction but it is a nice toner.

Rodan & Fields Pore Minimizing Toner

Ages of Beauty rating: ***

Redefine Triple Defense Treatment SPF 30

The Triple Defense Treatment is a day moisturizer that includes a broad spectrum sunscreen with spf 30. One of the things I like is how Rodan & Fields describes this product—it reduces the appearance of lines and wrinkles and visibly firms skin. Nowhere does it claim to make wrinkles disappear, which is a huge improvement to how many skin care companies market their products. Wrinkles typically can’t be “cured.” They can be improved with the use of retinoids (Retin A and other forms of Vitamin A) and they can temporarily be tightened with the use of certain film forming agents. As for “curing” them, the only way to permanently remove them is cosmetic surgery. Of course, if we knew as kids to wear sunscreen and completely stay out of the sun, we’d have many fewer wrinkles as adults. I digress…

Here are the ingredients:

ACTIVE INGREDIENTS: Avobenze 3% Homosalate 2.5% Octisalate 5% Octocrylene 2.7% INACTIVE INGREDIENTS: Water, Isododecane, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sucrose Stearate, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Extract, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Polyurethane-40, Hydrolyzed Silk, Fragrance, Silica, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Polysorbate 20, Iron Oxides, Tetrapeptide-21, Resveratrol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Talc, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Humic Acids, Sodium Hyaluronate

The active ingredients are all about the broad spectrum sun protection, which is why this product should be used during the day. A-OK here! The inactive ingredients are where the anti aging and moisturizing occurs. This moisturizer contains a number of emollients, ingredients which impact its texture, silicones, lipids (fatty acids that are important in moisturizers), antioxidants, skin conditioning agents, water binding agents, preservatives, collagen stimulating ingredients, and skin identical ingredients. A smooth, comfortable to wear lotion, I found Triple Defense Treatment to be gentle, moisturizing and it did not clog my pores, like some spf products can, making this moisturizer a really nice product!

Triple Defense Treatment

At $80 for one ounce of this moisturizer, this is one of the more expensive products in the line. Honestly, at this price, I worry that consumers won’t use the proper amount to guarantee adequate sun protection. As a result, this is the only area that I can fault with this product but it does impact my rating. It’s an excellent moisturizer and sunscreen, though, so if you’ve got the cash, go for it!

Ages of Beauty rating: ***

Redefine Overnight Restorative Cream

The Redefine Overnight Restorative Cream is a super moisturizing night cream that contains a number of different actives, some of which are also included in the day moisturizer. This one also includes glycerin, which is one of the ingredients that make it especially appropriate as a night cream. There are a number of additional ingredients, including vitamin C (an antioxidant which also helps to brighten the skin), niacinamide (a cell communicating ingredient that does things like improving the skin’s elasticity, protect the skin barrier, improve discoloration), hydrolyzed seracin (an amino acid that helps impart moisture into the skin) and all help to add to this product’s efficacy as a night cream.

Water, Isododecane, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride, Niacinamide, Beeswax, Cetearyl Alcohol, Gluconolactone, Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tetrapeptide-21, Hydrolyzed Silk, Humic Acids, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Extract, Soy Isoflavones, Squalane, Polysilicone-11, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glyceryl Stearate, Ascorbic Acid, Retinyl Palmitate, Hydrolyzed Sericin, Phospholipids, Cholesterol , PEG-100 Stearate, Sucrose Stearate, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Polyacrylate 13, Polyisobutene, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Titanium Dioxide, Fragrance

Overnight Restorative Cream

The “marketing speak” for this product seems to be consistent with the ingredients list. Rodan + Fields claims that this product will moisturize, firm and prevent moisture loss and it does. It is expensive, though, at $73 for one ounce, but I’m less concerned about the price because one can use a small amount of this product and get good results. There are definitely similar products available for less, though, but this one does what it says. I like this as a night time moisturizer and I had good results using it.

Ages of Beauty rating: ****

Have you tried any of the Redefine product line? What do YOU think?

Stay tuned for Part Two!

Vichy Aqualia Thermal Serum

A few months ago I purchased a number of skin care products to test and write about. Vichy’s Aqualia Thermal Serum was one of them and I’m happy to report that I really like this product. I’ve been using it all summer (I do switch off from time to time with my home made hyaluronic acid gel) and it’s really delightful to use. Read on for why products like these are good for our skin.

Serums are often an important part of any woman’s skincare routine but they are especially important for those of us over forty. I use several different products every single day and one of them is always a product containing hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a water-binding agent and when it’s an ingredient in a skincare product, it draws water (moisture) to the skin so that the skin can be hydrated. So yeah…it’s important. Now you can use activated hyaluronic acid (which will be in gel form) and then apply moisturizer right after and it basically gives your skin an extra shot of moisture. In some preparations (like this one), the hyaluronic acid is part of a serum that includes other moisturizing agents. Either way, I use this product just like I use a hyaluronic acid gel---right before my moisturizer in the morning and evening.

Aqualia Thermal Serum is a light liquid that feels “slick” on the skin and blends in beautifully. It’s not sticky or gummy and really adds a dose of moisture to the skin. This particular product can also be used as a sort of primer before foundation due to the addition of dimethicone, which is a type of silicone (a VERY common ingredient in primers). Silicone is one of the ingredients that causes it to feel silky and it also helps to smooth out skin imperfections, which makes it possible for foundation to provide a nice finish. The list of ingredients is below.

AQUA/WATER • GLYCERIN • DIMETHICONE • SERINE • ALCOHOL DENAT. • PEG-60 • PROPYLENE GLYCOL • HYDROGENATED CASTOR OIL • GLYCERYL ACRYLATE/ACRYLIC ACID COPOLYMER • DIMETHICONOL • SODIUM HYALURONATE • AMMONIUM POLYACRYLDIMETHYLTAURAMIDE • DISODIUM EDTA • CAPRYLYL GLYCOL • CITRIC ACID • BIOSACCHARIDE GUM-1 • PARFUM/FRAGRANCE

The first two ingredients, water and glycerin, are important moisturizing ingredients. Water is important because 70% of our skin is water and glycerin is an emollient and moisture absorbing ingredient. As I mentioned above, dimethicone provides the silky feel and is also labeled as a “skin protectant.”  Serine is an amino acid that is described as a skin conditioning agent which can aid in collagen production (something our skin loses as we age). Denatured Alcohol (the fifth ingredient) is a controversial ingredient in skincare products because alcohol is generally considered a drying agent which is not good for skin and hair. The “denatured” part of it means that something has been added to make it taste bad/smell bad so people won’t drink it. It is kind of an odd agreement but my research shows that it may have been included in the formula to aid in “absorption” of the other ingredients into the skin. Other ingredients include an alpha hydroxy acid, preservatives (which are definitely needed in skincare products), humectants and delivery agents, surfactant, skin conditioning agents, hyaluronic acid, stabilizing agents, and fragrance. I’m not a chemist or expert, but unless I’m missing something, there doesn’t seem to be anything either revolutionary or disappointing in this ingredient list (although some people won’t like the alcohol but it’s not a big deal to me). The thing about ingredients is this---there are very reputable sources on the internet that will tell you what these ingredients actually do---and I’m not referring to the “crunchy” sites that state that everything causes cancer or the manufacturers’ sites that claim that literally everything is safe. I think it’s good to be an educated consumer!

A little of this serum goes a long way which is good, since it costs $36 but it does do what it says it will. The marketing for the product is a little over the top (Vichy thermal water? Aquabioryl? Really??? These things are not “special” from what I can see) but if you can get beyond that, this is a decent and, most of all, convenient hyaluronic acid serum.

Would I purchase this again? Possibly but I can make a homemade version of this with no problem. Do I recommend this product to my friends and family? Sure!

Have you tried Vichy’s Aqualia Thermal Serum? How do you like it?

Ages of Beauty rating: ***

Product Showdown: Best High End Black Eye Pencils for the Waterline

To set the stage, a few weeks ago I decided I wanted to try lining my lower waterline with black liner, like I have seen on many You Tube videos. Now you may think, “Wow, Denise! Get with the program! I have been doing that for ages!!!” Yeah, I know. I guess I am behind the times because I had never tried it on myself. So it was time! I decided to do a product showdown between high end liners and drugstore liners to see what I could find in each category. The lower waterline is really a special area---it’s wet, sensitive and some liners do not “transfer” well onto that area, leaving the color patchy or non existent. My objective was to find a black eyeliner that didn’t smudge, provided a deep, dark color and stayed put on the waterline at least four hours. Today’s showdown is on high end  liner pencils and after I finish testing all of my drugstore finds, I will post about the lower cost liners.

For each of these tests, I used the same eyelid primer (Urban Decay Primer Potion), mascara (Trish McEvoy—upper lashes only), gel liner on upper lid (Bobbi Brown), under eye concealer (Bye Bye Undereye, set with loose powder) and eye shadows that I find to be long lasting (Mac and Wet N Wild). None of these products smear on my eyes.

Top: Mac Smolder

Center: Chanel Ebene

Bottom: MUFE Aqua Eyes 0L

Mac Smolder

I was in Nordstrom when I remembered that Mac had a deeply black eye pencil that I should check out. The SA told me that the Smolder kohl pencil was the only one that was rated for the waterline and that it provides the best coverage and is long lasting. She said that she got about 4 hours of wear out of it and that it was the best on he market. Skeptical that four hours would actually be consider “the best,” I decided to take a chance and purchased it. True to her word, the color was the richest of the three high end pencils I’m reviewing. See below how great it looked when it was applied!

Mac Smolder upon application

Beautiful, right? Well, unfortunately, after one hour, I had smudging under the both eyes and virtually none of the liner left on my waterline. At four hours, the smudging was significantly worse and at eight, I had black eyeliner deeply down into the troughs of the eyes. For some reason, I am unable to find the pictures. It’s possible I was so disgusted that I didn’t take pictures, LOL! Beautiful pencil, but definitely a fail on the waterline. I will, however, try it on the upper lid and also use it in future smoky eye looks!

Ages of Beauty rating (for lower waterline): zero stars

Chanel Ebene Eye Pencil

This pencil has been in my collection for awhile and I’ve enjoyed wearing it, with good results, on my upper lid. It’s a nice, dark shade of black but not as intense as Mac’s Smolder. The pencil glides easily over the waterline and transfers color easily to that area. See the pictures, below, at application, after 4 hours and after 8 hours.

Chanel Ebene at application

Chanel Ebene 4 hours after application

After four hours, the Chanel pencil had slight smudging under each eye but nothing too serious. There was still a little bit left on each waterline.

Chanel Ebene 8 hours after application

After eight hours, Ebene left significant smudging but no where near as bad as the Mac pencil. the worst of it was on the right eye (the left side of the picture) at the outer corner. In real life, I would have cleaned this up at the first sign of a smudge so this wouldn’t have been that bad after a full day of wear, although it was completely gone from the waterline and definitely would have needed a refresh after four hours.

Ages of Beauty rating (for lower waterline): **

Make Up for Ever Aqua Eyes in 0L

This pencil is part of the famous “Aqua Eyes” line that was supposedly developed for synchronized swimmers. I have many of the cream eye shadows from this collection and they definitely stay put. The color 0L is a slightly muted black, making it the least intense, color-wise, of the three high end pencils I tested. It went on very easily and didn’t pull the skin upon application.

MUFE 0L at application

MUFE 0L 4 hours after application

Four hours after I applied the MUFE pencil, I experienced very minor smudging at the corner of the eyes but there was nothing left on the waterline. Since smudging is the bane of my existence, I was very pleased with this (if only it would have stayed on the waterline!!!).

MUFE 0L 8 hours after application

After eight hours, the smudging at the corners was only very slightly worse, making the Make Up for Ever pencil the winner of these three pencils, for lower waterline use. Since there was no color left on the actual waterline, this pencil isn’t a home run, but it is definitely what I would consider usable!!

Ages of Beauty rating (for lower waterline): ***

Interestingly enough, I tested one drugstore pencil in between these three and it performed better than all of these (I was shocked!!). Starting today, I’m testing a few more and should have a post on my drugstore results later this week!

I’ll keep testing high end brands as well and will let you know if I find anything better than the MUFE pencil for the lower waterline.

Do you use a black liner on your lower waterline? Have you found anything that doesn’t smudge and stays put? Please share!!!